TIMMINS, Ont. – Reece Liu scored once and dished out a trio of assists to help send the Timmins Rock on their way to a 6-2 victory over the French River Rapids in a rambunctious Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Sunday matinee held at Archie Dillon Sportsplex.
Timmins was quick to tally in this one as Liu banged in a rebound off a Kaeden McArthur attempt, on French River goaltender Brock Grein, 80 seconds into the contest.
The Rapids drew even midway through the first period when Alexandre Dubuc, battling in front, snagged a loose puck off a Nolan Masson point shot and stuffed in a backhand on Rock netminder Dryden Riley.
The Dubuc marker gives him goals in five straight games, as well as points in seven in succession.
Retaking the lead late in the session, Liu broke into the French River and while wheeling around the net, fired a feed back in front that found Henry McLellan, who whipped in a shot from the right of Grein.
Action in the second stanza saw Timmins take command, compliments of a pair of Clark Scaddan tallies.
His initial effort saw him race in alone and lift a shot over the blocker of Grein at 2:15.
Opting for the goaltending change, Carter Vicente entered in relief for the Rapids.
However, Scaddan greeted him three and a half minutes later by taking a Liu pass and zipping it into the open corner.
There was more from Timmins after that when Ryan Boon snagged a bouncing puck in the neutral zone darted in on a shorthanded breakaway and converted on a second crack, after being initially stopped by Vicente.
Pulling back to within three, Daniil Grishachev wired in a one-timer off a Dubec set-up.
Securing the victory during a man advantage in the third, McArthur sent a nice saucer pass to the top of the crease that was neatly redirected in by Thomas Beard to round out the scoring.
The win moves the Rock to 12-7-0-0 and with the loss, the Rapids sink to 6-10-1-2.
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
